2012 Buyer’s Guide: Trail Mountain Bikes

Mar 19, 2012

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Santa Cruz Blur TRc R XC - $3,800

For years, Santa Cruz offered only two versions of its flagship Blur. The racy XC bike offered 100mm of travel while the LT, with 140mm of travel, catered to rowdier riders. But this year, the company found room in the middle for a third Blur. The TRc does have a unique personality. The slack head tube, for example, adds stability on steep descents but also requires you to weight the front end while cornering to avoid washing out. The low bottom bracket, which lets the bike rip around corners and stay upright through slow-speed, technical terrain, leads to more frequent pedal strikes. But if you’re fast on climbs and descents, and look for fun in your bikes, the Blur TRc could be an ideal fit.

The X3 comes with fantastic parts given the budget price. Front-suspension duties are handled by a Fox fork with a 15mm thru-axle—a safer, stiffer system that’s not often found on bikes at this price. The Giant-brand wheels are tubeless-ready—conversion requires only rim tape and sealant—and the excellent Schwalbe Nobby Nic tires, though not tubeless, offer great traction, predictable cornering, and reasonable rolling efficiency. Because the Trance X3 is designed to descend as well as it climbs, Giant smartly added a larger front-brake rotor for better stopping control. The Shimano front derailleur and triple crank shift superbly, and are paired with a capable SRAM rear derailleur and cassette. The Avid Elixir 1 brakes work well, but have proven inconsistent and hard to bleed on other test bikes, so maintenance costs could add up.

This Swiss company may be best known for the SLR01 road model that Cadel Evans rode to victory in the 2011 Tour de France, but the brand has been building mountain bikes since it was founded in 1986. In fact, BMC once stood for Bob’s Mountain Company, the outfit’s original name. The 150mm Trailfox follows that tradition of building quality off-road bikes and adds in all of the must-have modern features. Its carbon frame weighs just 5.5 pounds (including the rear 142x12 thru-axle) and was built to withstand the rigors of BMC’s proving grounds in the Alps. A 67.5-degree head tube makes for a stable ride on steep descents, while the relatively short cockpit promises nimble handling. You’ll appreciate the travel-adjust feature on the Fox fork on epic outings, and the Shimano XT brakes and 3x10 drivetrain are reliable performers.

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GT Bicycles Sensor 4.0 - $1,540

The flat aluminum pedals on the Sensor 4.0 let you know that this bike has been designed for everyone to enjoy—from beginners to all-mountain rippers. Riders of any level can rely on this bike’s durability. GT’s proven i-Drive suspension design delivers bob-free pedaling performance, and the durable hydroformed aluminum frame can be found on the most expensive Sensor models. This makes the affordable 4.0 a great choice for riders on a budget or for anyone who plans on upgrading parts from the original build. But with hydraulic disc brakes (with an oversize front rotor) and beefy Maxxis tires, the Sensor comes ready to ride hard as is. The bike’s 120mm of travel is handled by an X-Fusion 02 shock and a RockShox XC32 fork. The frame’s well-balanced geometry won’t hinder you while climbing, even on steep ascents, or pitch you over the bar on rough descents.

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Intense Carbine SL - $2,820

Intense makes beautiful aluminum frames in its Southern California factory, but the company has also begun manufacturing select frames overseas—the Carbine is its first bike made abroad and is among its first carbon-fiber models. Designed for cross-country and trail riders, the Carbine SL frame weighs five pounds (with a Kashima-coated Fox RP23 shock) and uses the efficient, sure-pedaling VPP suspension, licensed from Santa Cruz. The carbon upper link has two shock-mount positions, so you can choose 4.75 or 5.25 inches of rear travel. A tapered head tube, pressfit bottom bracket, and 15mm shock pivots add stiffness, while titanium fasteners keep weight to a minimum. Riders who want more suspension travel should check out the standard Carbine, which has 160mm of squish. Those who want a lighter-weight speed machine will be happier with the Carbine SL.

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Kona Tanuki Deluxe - $2000

For nearly 25 years, Kona has used a single guiding principle: Create bikes that are fun, affordable, and durable. The new Tanuki perfectly fits that goal. (Even the bike’s name is tongue-in-cheek: Tanuki is a mythical Japanese raccoon dog known for its giant reproductive organs and love of liquor.) The midpriced Deluxe model is a 130mm-travel trail bike with an aggressive attitude that features a double-butted, 7005-series aluminum frame. There’s a 68-degree tapered head tube and generous standover clearance to help you on any trail. A Kona house-brand Fastrax AF2 shock manages a reliable four-bar, walking-beam suspension. A RockShox Secktor fork with 15mm thru-axle handles suspension duties up front. Other components include a Shimano 3x10 drivetrain and Avid brakes. The Tanuki is available in seven sizes, ensuring a perfect fit for nearly any rider.

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Marin Mount Vision XM6 - $2,100

Marin revamped its Quad-Link suspension system for 2012 with a rocker-link layout that offers a whole new look and feel. The revised linkage retains a rising-rate leverage ratio, which offers snappy pedaling, but the bikes are now plusher, allowing riders to better access the last third of travel on the biggest hits. In addition to revising its suspension, Marin also introduced several new models. The XM6 is an aggressive trail bike with 140mm of travel and a slack 67.5-degree head-tube angle. Suspension components include a 140mm RockShox Sektor fork with a tapered steerer and a 15mm front axle. The RockShox Ario shock manages the travel well, whether you’re climbing technical switchbacks on singletrack through the woods or blasting down a fire road. Other component highlights include a SRAM 10-speed X7/X5 drivetrain, Maxxis Ardent tires, and Avid Elixir 1 brakes.

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Pivot Mach 5.7 X0 - $5,500

The Mach 5.7 combines DW-Link suspension and a lightweight frame to deliver superlative pedaling—it’s so good that you won’t believe you’re on a bike with 145mm of travel. A tapered head tube set at a slack 67.1 degrees will boost your confidence riding rough terrain at speed, and the bike’s carbon-fiber links—braced with double bearings—provide a laterally stiff rear end. Although the 5.7 was already well regarded (it earned a Bicycling Editors’ Choice award in 2011), Pivot improved the frame with a rear thru-axle and post-style brake mounts to create an even tighter-handling chassis. At just 5.6 pounds for a frame and shock, the Mach 5.7 is as light as many similar carbon frames. Choose among seven high-end parts kits. The premium version shown here includes a SRAM X0 drivetrain, FSA SL-K carbon cockpit, and buttery Kashima-coated Fox suspension.

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Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Comp EVO - $3,300

Specialized uses a special EVO link to boost travel by 10mm, up to 150mm, on the Stumpjumper FSR. The link also slackens the geometry, giving the bike a more aggressive stance. To complement the EVO’s all-mountain mien, designers added hand-selected parts that turn the bike into a near-custom dream ride. Along with Specialized’s Command Post BlackLite dropper post, the hopped-up bike comes with a bash guard, chain guide, and a wide, 2.3-inch dual-compound Specialized Butcher front tire. Other details include a Fox RP2 shock with proprietary Autosag, which takes the guesswork out of setting air pressure. The company’s 142+ rear hub strengthens the rear wheel. Toss in a set of Avid Elixir 7 brakes, a RockShox Revelation fork, and a SRAM 2x10 crankset, and the Stumpjumper EVO comes ready to climb up and tear down anything in its path.

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Tomac Supermatic 120 - $4,400

The Supermatic 120 is an unsung star of the trail-bike category. Introduced last year, the carbon model was designed to be as stiff and light as possible—without the inclusion of a pressfit bottom bracket or rear thru-axle, features found on most bikes in this category. The five-pound frame (including the shock) has 120mm of rear travel delivered by a single-pivot suspension with a swing link. The Supermatic has a 68.7-degree head angle, short chainstays, and a low bottom bracket—geometry that means this bike is capable of taking on just about any trail, whether it’s twisty switchbacks, steep climbs, rough fireroads, or fast descents. Built with midpriced components, the bike shown here weighs in at just 25.5 pounds. And with mountain bike legend John Tomac testing and offering design input on the frame, the bike’s design emphasizes lightning speed.

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Trek Fuel EX 9.7 - $3,840

Trek’s Fuel EX bikes are versatile, and the nine-model line has something for every budget (prices start at $1,800 and top out at $9,000). The 9.7 is the most affordable version to employ Trek’s light and stiff OCLV carbon front triangle. The model also incorporates a Shimano XT/SLX 3x10 drivetrain and proven SLX brakes. Versatility and go-anywhere attitude come compliments of Trek’s proprietary DRCV (Dual Rate Control Valve) fork and shock, which are made by Fox. The suspension sounds complicated, but the premise is simple and effective: A small air chamber provides a smooth pedaling platform and supple small-bump compliance, while a plusher second air chamber is activated when the bike encounters bigger hits. Trek’s ABP suspension pivots around the rear axle to keep the rear end active—and the tires glued to the ground—during braking and pedaling.

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Yeti SB66C XTR - $6,800

Yeti launched this new 6-inch all-mountain bike last summer, using it to unveil the company’s new suspension platform, called Switch Technology. The twin-link design gives the bike a crisp pedaling feeling and plush big-hit performance. The secret behind the setup is an eccentric switch-link pivot that changes direction midway through its rotation to help mitigate chain forces and create a stable pedaling platform. (The same design is used on Yeti’s new 29er, the SB95.) Despite the new design, the SB-66 retains Yeti’s telltale traits—a long, low top tube and slack head tube that help make the bike a ferocious descender. This top-end version comes with Shimano’s jewel-like XTR 2x10 drivetrain and brakes. Fox provides the fork and shock, and Thomson kicks in the stem and seatpost. While this version is fairly expensive, more affordable models start at $3,500.

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